Book of Jasher Referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel

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Summary: An alternate exodus story that rings true
Review: I first became aware of this book via the AMORC Rosicrucians who had made it available for sale for many years, and they have many wonderful books available at amazon for your consideration. They've overall had a sterling international reputation in all respects for nearly a century unlike so many of the kooky new age groups that have sprung up nowadays, thus I believed their assessment of the Jasher book. Furthermore, I actually borrowed the Book of Jasher from the University of Minnesota, so I have little doubt as to its scholarly authenticity as the U of M people are in the business of knowing what they're talking about. The Book of Jasher was suppressed at least twice by Christian religious fanatics to my recollection, and that alone always makes me want to read something. Despite how the frothing-at-the-mouth religious fanatics tried to burn and suppress this Jasher book, it has always managed to survive. Some things, truth among them, have an annoying tendency for that in some people's eyes. I don't know if this book is true or not; but it presents a rationale for the Egyptians not wanting the Hebrews to leave that seems more believable from a socio-economic point of view. Whereas the presently accepted Exodus paints the Egyptians as SO utterly evil that if the Exodus were known to be a work of fiction, I'd critique it for making the Egyptians seem unrealistically TOO evil and thus not believable for that very reason. Is the Jasher book right and the Exodus wrong? I don't know, but if I had to choose I'd play it conservative and stick with the present Exodus book until more proof if any to the contrary would ever arise. Regardless of its veracity or falsity, thankfully we now live in an age where the book-burning "churchianity" creatures (not to be confused with genuinely spiritual people) cannot still unilaterally decide anymore what the rest of us can and cannot read in public or even in our own homes. They just hate that.

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Summary: A wonderful companion to the books of Moses!
Review: The Book of Jasher supports the books of Moses as the books of the Chronicles support the books of the Kings. A better title for this book would be "The Book (or Record) of the Upright," for that is what is the meaning of the Hebrew words. Here the pre-Flood days are more clearly revealed; the problems causing God to bring about the Flood and Noah's walk with God; how Nimrod obtained the garments of skins that God made for Adam and Eve after they sinned; and Nimrod's involvement in the life of Abraham, and how Noah protected Abraham. Here is revealed clarifications to the story of Joseph, and why he still remained in prison after revealing the meaning of the dreams of Pharoh's Butler and Baker. In some ways the book - as published by the Parry Company in the 1800's - is another history book, but it is only a spiritual thing that can bring a greater understanding of the reality and truth of the times from Creation to the early years in Palestine after the Exodus from Egypt, and the magnificent strength and power those sons of Jacob possessed. It is my conviction that this book belongs right beside the Bible's Old Testament.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful companion to the books of Moses!
Review: The Book of Jasher supports the books of Moses as the books of the Chronicles support the books of the Kings. A better title for this book would be "The Book (or Record) of the Upright," for that is what is the meaning of the Hebrew words. Here the pre-Flood days are more clearly revealed; the problems causing God to bring about the Flood and Noah's walk with God; how Nimrod obtained the garments of skins that God made for Adam and Eve after they sinned; and Nimrod's involvement in the life of Abraham, and how Noah protected Abraham. Here is revealed clarifications to the story of Joseph, and why he still remained in prison after revealing the meaning of the dreams of Pharoh's Butler and Baker. In some ways the book - as published by the Parry Company in the 1800's - is another history book, but it is only a spiritual thing that can bring a greater understanding of the reality and truth of the times from Creation to the early years in Palestine after the Exodus from Egypt, and the magnificent strength and power those sons of Jacob possessed. It is my conviction that this book belongs right beside the Bible's Old Testament.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful companion to the books of Moses!
Review: The Book of Jasher supports the books of Moses as the books of the Chronicles support the books of the Kings. A better title for this book would be "The Book (or Record) of the Upright," for that is what is the meaning of the Hebrew words. Here the pre-Flood days are more clearly revealed; the problems causing God to bring about the Flood and Noah's walk with God; how Nimrod obtained the garments of skins that God made for Adam and Eve after they sinned; and Nimrod's involvement in the life of Abraham, and how Noah protected Abraham. Here is revealed clarifications to the story of Joseph, and why he still remained in prison after revealing the meaning of the dreams of Pharoh's Butler and Baker. In some ways the book - as published by the Parry Company in the 1800's - is another history book, but it is only a spiritual thing that can bring a greater understanding of the reality and truth of the times from Creation to the early years in Palestine after the Exodus from Egypt, and the magnificent strength and power those sons of Jacob possessed. It is my conviction that this book belongs right beside the Bible's Old Testament.

Rating:
Summary: Has the ring of authenticity and makes fascinating reading!
Review: The Book of Jasher, or "The Upright Record" is mentioned in the Old Testament twice (See Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18). Incidentally, "Jasher" is not a person's name but is the Hebrew word for "Upright." Like the Book of Jubilees, the Upright Record is a retelling of the Genesis story from a different person's perspective other than Moses'. It also contains a wealth of detail missing from Moses' abbreviated account. For those who wish to read this book, you should know that there are two books circulating that are entitled "The Book of Jasher." The one that is supposedly a ninth century translation by Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus (the Abbot of Canterbury and the religious tutor of Charlemagne) is an obvious forgery.

The books of Joshua and 2 Samuel in the Old Testament mention the Book of Jasher or "Upright Record" as a source of information for two historical events that the Bible covers briefly. These two stories are contained in the thirteenth century translation, but the incident in 2 Samuel is not covered in the ninth century edition at all. Furthermore, the thirteenth century translation appears to have been made from a Hebrew original. Besides the claim that it came from a Hebrew original, the thirteenth century copy of the Book of Jasher has the sound of an authentic historical document written by someone with a Semitic background who actually witnessed some of the recorded events. This thirteenth century edition is far longer than the ninth century edition and contains too many authentic cultural descriptions of Near Eastern and Semitic life to have been invented. Furthermore, none of the more vivid and colorful historical and cultural recollections in the thirteenth century edition that give it such a ring of authenticity appear in the supposedly older manuscript by Alcuinus.

Since the Book of Jasher is not considered a religious document but a historical narrative, however, some of its stories may have been embellished or may contain inaccuracies. In addition, the Book of Jasher 's chronology for certain events differs in some cases from the abbreviated Genesis account of this time period in the Bible. I always trust that the Bible is more accurate in these cases. Nevertheless, the Book of Jasher has great value as a history since it offers a wealth of details the Genesis account by Moses lacks. In many cases, it can help us to understand difficult passages or situations recorded too briefly in the Bible. Unfortunately, it is currently impossible to prove whether or not the thirteenth century copy of the Book of Jasher available to us today is a legitimate Bible history or not until a much older manuscript is found. Someday, I hope this will happen. In the meantime, however, I am allowing the Holy Spirit to guide my choices and I believe that there is enough internal evidence in the Book of Jasher to prove that it is authentic.